Housing Corporation News Release

Kitchen to be built in just 5 hours at Housing Corporation conference

22 November 2006  Media Contact: Naomi Evans 020 7393 2118       ref:118/06

The speed at which a high quality kitchen can be installed will be demonstrated live at a Housing Corporation 'Gold'  conference on Tuesday 28 November.

Photo call details:
Date:   Tuesday 28 November 2006
Venue:   Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, 22 Portman Square, London W1
Start time:  Kitchen build will start at 9.30am
End time/  The kitchen will be unveiled for conference delegates to inspect at 2.30pm
photo opportunity:

The kitchen build is one of the highlights of 'The Gold Approach - Innovation in Procurement' conference, which is aimed at professionals responsible for the planning and delivery of housing procurement and maintenance services.  The installation is a showcase of the procurement work of Gold Award winners and regeneration partnership, Fusion 21 - whose skills training programme helps unemployed people gain training and jobs in the construction industry.

Their construction skills training programme means that Fusion 21 has its own direct supply of labour, to match its works programme.  Two Fusion 21 Skills Programme trainees will help to build the brand new kitchen in just five hours - illustrating the reality and importance of both a speedy and efficient maintenance operation.

The kitchen is an example of a kitchen specifically made for affordable housing by Rixonway Kitchen suppliers.  The kitchens are designed with each individual home owner, built offsite, and then delivered to the property - meaning easy installation with minimal disruption to the resident.  The kitchen will be fully fitted by the end of the build, with white goods, cupboards, worktops, a sink, and appliances.

Michèle Low, Head of the Housing Corporation's Centre for Research and Market Intelligence said, "Maintaining and refurbishing housing can be not only expensive but also a time- consuming process.  However, Fusion 21's slick approach shows how sophisticated procurement methods mean improved delivery - whether it is building houses or installing the kitchens inside them.  At a time when demand is very high, and we are building 84,000 homes over the next two years, this has to be the way forward."

Colette McKune, Programme Director of Fusion 21 said, "From our experience, managing the supply chain and controlling costs is of paramount importance.  This makes the whole procurement process far more transparent, guaranteeing the best product, supplier and price for every job.

"We use a construction skills training programme to train local unemployed people in Merseyside, giving Fusion21 its own direct supply of labour, to match our planned works programme.  The programme also  ensures that those people leaving for employment now have skills recognised by the Construction Industry Training Board."
Representatives from the Housing Corporation and Fusion 21 will be available for interviews throughout the day.  To pre book an interview please contact Naomi Evans on 0207 393 2118 or Sandra White on 020 7393 2094.

Ends.

Notes to editors:
1) The two trainees are two of many success stories from Fusion 21's unique skills programme, which aims to tackle the skills shortage within the construction industry.

Stephen Balmer (age 19)
• Lives in Bootle, Liverpool
• Unemployed for approximately 6 months prior to his start on Fusion21
• Training with Fusion21 lasted 12 weeks
• Currently registered for NVQ 2 Kitchen Fitting with employer as part of their sustainable employment since 8 September 2006

Michael McCormick (age 23)
• Lives in Norris Green, Liverpool
• Unemployed for approximately 6 months prior to starting with Fusion21
• Training with Fusion21 lasted 5 months
• Currently registered for NVQ 2 Wood Occupations with employer as part of their sustainable employment since 10 March 2006

2) Launched in June 2005, the Gold Award competition is open to housing associations able to demonstrate outstanding performance in key areas of business. The award aims to identify and share excellence and raise operational standards for the benefit of residents across the sector. 

3) Fusion21 is a winner in the Gold Award for Innovation and Procurement.  Procurement was chosen as a theme for the fist annual Gold Award to reflect both the Housing Corporation's and Government's priorities in the procurement and efficiency agendas.  Fusion 21 is one of the two winners, the other being Advantage South West.  Fusion21 uses the joint purchasing power of its partner housing associations to manage the supply chain and drive down costs.  This makes the whole procurement process more transparent and guarantees the best product, supplier and price.

4) Fusion21 is a regeneration partnership that was established with an aim to revolutionise the construction supply chain by pioneering a radical approach to procuring both materials and labour.  Fusion21  uses a construction skills training programme to train local unemployed people, giving Fusion21 is own direct supply of labour, to match its planned maintenance programme.  The programme ensures that those people leaving for employment have skills recognised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).  To date Fusion21 has supported 331 people into sustainable employment within the construction industry.

5) The kitchen has been designed and supplied by Rixonway Kitchens, who work in partnership with Fusion 21.  Rixonway Kitchens are the only kitchen manufacturer dedicated to community regeneration and are unique in the fact that they supply purely to social housing. 

6) The event has been organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). The CIH is the professional body for individuals working in housing. Its primary aim is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well-being of communities. CIH has over 19,500 individual members working for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector.  Further information is available at: www.cih.org

7) The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating over 1,500 housing associations across England.   Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 will fund 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these will be for affordable rent, and 35,000 will be for affordable sale through the Government's new HomeBuy initiative, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.